Where have all the twenty-somethings gone?
**I am now defining "twenty-somethings" as 19-32ish -- mainly dependent on high school graduation, sometimes marital status, and relative maturity. Do they act like they're in their twenties?**
In September I went back to California for a friend’s wedding. Some friends and I discussed church, church participation, etc. Many of the people I visited with have been in Santa Clarita through college, are now getting jobs in Santa Clarita, and plan to live there for awhile. Some of them are involved in church. Some are trying to get involved in their church. Some are still trying to find a church where they feel a sense of “belonging.”
Why aren’t more committed and participating after living there for multiple years?
In Washington I spoke with another friend about church attendance. She and her husband want to commit to a church, but they can’t find one that meets their needs/preferences. They are also finding it difficult to balance life and church and ministry.
What examples have they seen of this? Who is reaching out to them in the church they are attending? Are they throwing themselves out there so they can be “reached out” to?
Here in Ohio, I recently went to a new friend’s friend’s house. We had a game night. The age-range was from 23 to 25. There were two married couples present and three single girls.
Out of seven people only two are committed to attending a particular church.
Why?
Between games we ended up discussing their list of “desired things in a church.” It came down to these:
--Good theology
--Worship songs they know/can sing
--Fellowship (after a space of time)
--Possibility of marriage counseling from older couples (discipleship/accountability)
--People their age
These don’t seem like difficult traits to find. So, why haven’t they settled and committed to a church yet?
A few days ago, I had another “church discussion” with another friend of mine who is living in another state. She has now found a church she attends with regularity, but this has only been within the last year.
Why not sooner?
Is the problem with the churches or us? (Or both?)
Where have the twenty-somethings gone?
At my Ohio church there are a few twenty-somethings. A few just entered the land of the twenties, most are 27-32. Some are serving in church, though many are just attending one service and Bible studies. (Presently, I am in that camp, but I am not yet a member and I have not yet been there for 6 months -- time required for them to observe me before jumping in).
Why aren’t more twenty-somethings coming?
Why isn’t there more participation and commitment to ministry?
I think it comes back to the list of “desired church traits.”
What’s missing in the list?:
An expectation and goal to participate in ministry (as a priority).
It seems that my age group (and even the older ones,) are more concerned about a church meeting their needs rather than committing to a local body that teaches the truth of the Scriptures and then jumping in with the purpose of serving others.
Are most twenty-somethings merely spiritual leeches?
What is the twenty-something’s understanding of the Church and what it requires of them?
Where are their life priorities in regards to committing to the church and participating in ministry?
Have they set false expectations? Are they only thinking selfishly?
What is happening inside the church?
Are the people who are already there bringing in the younger people? [Not through crazy modes of entertainment, but through relationships, examples, and accountability (aka discipleship).]
I propose a summary of why “young adults” are MIA:
a) They don’t understand the purpose of the Church and/or their role in the Church and/or their need to love the Church.
b) Lack of holy living and discipling by those “wiser” and older in the church. (But, even/especially they don't know why they are attending church.)
c) The pursuit of jobs and outside activities is a greater priority than church involvement BECAUSE of the time of life (starting careers, marriages, moving, living independently, etc.) [and has occurred because of reasons a and b.]
So what can we do?
--Be faithful to God's Word and living it out. Initiate things.
What will be the consequence to the church when [my] generation abandons fellowship in the Body?
(The affects will fall upon their children, their children, their children -- our nation. Is the time of the Lord's judgment coming?)
Pursue people! Pursue Jesus! May we increase in zeal.
(We still have a harvest of souls to till -- He has given us Life and we're still pigrimaging on the earth.)
"For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us that He might redeem us from every lawless deed, and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works." Titus 2:11-14
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Gentleman's Hands
The gentleman sits in his chair. He has no choice. He can go nowhere else. His joints have deteriorated to the point that even though many have been replaced, his existence is the chair.
When he was young – in his thirties and forties – he built with his hands. He was a carpenter, a farmer, and a handyman. He loved forming things out of nothing, sawing, shaping, planning, constructing. He could jump up and go, anytime and anywhere.
Now, he is confined to his chair.
Young men don’t often question whether or not they’ll be able to work for the rest of their lives. They expect their invincibility to continue. “Live fast and die young,” he and his friends would joke.
That isn't the way his life turned out.
His hands, which had once been able to bend and move, now flop together, unable to close even enough to return a handshake.
Hands, which had once been strong and powerful, are now weak and shriveled. Five years ago he could pick up a shovel and dig; today he can't even pick up a hanky to wipe his own nose.
He had not planned life to go this way, but now it is here.
He fights against frustration and lunacy, but some days it suffocates him.
He would never have imagined this for himself.
What about you?
Is your body crippled yet?
Is your body crippled yet?
Is your body confined in the world of a chair yet?
Is your body disobedient because it cannot handle the commands of daily use yet?
For some, these pains are already life's reality.
For some, these pains will come before “old age”.
For some, “old age” will never be as debilitating.
For some, these pains are already life's reality.
For some, these pains will come before “old age”.
For some, “old age” will never be as debilitating.
How will you steward God’s gift to you?
How are you preparing your heart to receive these things now?
We all fade as a leaf.
We last no longer than a vapor.
And through it all: God is sovereign.
He has His plan for our good and His glory.
We last no longer than a vapor.
And through it all: God is sovereign.
He has His plan for our good and His glory.
May we trust Him through this Journey and invest for profit the currency [life] He has entrusted to our care.
“So teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”
Psalm 90:12
Saturday, January 01, 2011
Good Morning, 2011!
Good morning 2011!
I can’t believe you have arrived. I thought 2010 was going to be more interesting, but it came and went without as many delights as I had planned. Now, 2011, I would like to know what surprises and delights YOU have in store. Maybe you have no delights. Maybe you will be the hardest year of my life. Who knows? The Lord knows! But can’t you give me a few clues?? A few sneak previews?
Fine, fine, if you signed a contract that prohibits giving sneak peeks, fine.
To tell you the truth, 2011, I really did want to accomplish MORE in 2010. I thought that was a cool number. I wanted to get an official document so the [cool] year’s number could be on there, but I think all I have are receipts, car insurance documents, and paychecks. I was hoping for something more substantial. It would have been nice to get some sort of degree or credential with 2010 on it. Oh well. Guess my opportunity has passed.
Sorry, am I annoying you? Am I talking too much about last year? Okay. What shall WE plan to do? In your year I will be a quarter of a century. That’s pretty strange. It is even stranger to me because I feel as if I haven’t aged for a few years. I mean, I think (I hope) I have gained some maturity, but I don’t feel old(er). (Maybe I am going at such a speed, as compared to those around me, that I am aging at a slower pace! Maybe I am experiencing the theory of relativity!!) Back to the point, turning a quarter of a century is a big deal. What are we going to do about that?
Hey! You better not be laughing at me, 2011! I don’t care if that’s merely a speck of dust in comparison to the number of years the world has been around. This year has to be a year of BIG EVENTS! GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENTS! ACHIEVING GOALS! (I guess I want to become a new person.)
Generally speaking though, 2011, I don’t like setting New Year’s resolutions. I hope you’re not offended. It’s not that you’re not fun to plan for and to use as motivation, but I never accomplish them and then I just feel like a big, fat failure for not attaining my goal(s).
What?! You think I should try again? You think we could be successful partners? I don’t know. What do you have that the other years didn’t?
Class? You have class?? That’s your recommendation for yourself? Good thing you didn’t have any competition for this “New Year” position. Good thing you were just BORN into the job. (Some guys have it SO easy.)
No, I am not being rude. I just need to have a better reason to make resolutions with you.
No, it’s not that I don’t trust you, per se. It’s more that I don’t trust myself. Yeah, 2011 WOULD be a good year to change all that AND mark it with me adding the 25th year to my life (IF I make it to April…this could be my last year, you know.)
Say! That would have been cool to die in 2010. But if I died in 2011 I would die with a “rounded” age, if you allow for stopping on the fives to be rounding.
Sorry, too morbid? Sorry. (You can’t deny that it’s a possibility though. It could happen.)
All right, so 2011, you have persuaded me. I guess I will make some resolutions. But I only have big, general ideas. I don’t have detailed particulars. For instance: last year I prayed that the Lord would make me love Him with my whole being. WOW! He grew me in that!! I love Him more NOW (much more) than I did at the beginning of last year. Last year I also asked Him that my heart would sorrow for souls. My heart has been sorrowing, 2011, more and more (it would seem) with each passing day.
What shall I ask of Him THIS year? – That I would see my sin more clearly, hate it more fervently, and repent (put on righteousness) with greater speed. I want to be holier this year. (No, 2011, not holier than thou.) I just want to pursue holiness BECAUSE I love Him.
I want to walk in the good works that He has set before me.
I want to entrust my dreams to Him and wait for Him to give me whatever dreams He wants me to have. (I really hope He will give me some of the dreams that I have dreamed rather than making me dream new ones, but I will choose to take content what He will send.)
I want to reflect Him more and myself less. (That will take some definite refining.)
I do want my love for Him to grow. I want to love Him more with more of me.
I also would like to accomplish tasks. Things I have been talking about for years, I want to do. But, I don’t really know what that means. I think it will mean (yes…typical, typical…) exercising (we’ll start with an acceptably easy goal,) 3 days a week. (I really mean 5, but I don’t know I can keep that for the WHOLE year.)
I think I should also get my passport. Why not, right? There’s nothing wrong in being ready. (When the Lord says, “GO!” I can just grab up my passport with my backpack and VAMOOS!)
OH! 2011, does this mean we will have ADVENTURES together?! Oh PLEASE?! THAT would be delightful and that would make you a better year than 2010 could ever be, (even if 10 IS half of 20).
HEY! Maybe I’ll also learn Spanish, take art lessons, cake-decorating lessons, travel the East Coast, start volunteering in the community, get more involved at church, make new friends, take dance lessons, learn pottery…
What? That’s too much? You say I should just see what happens?? I thought we were going to make RESOLUTIONS! …Oh yeah, stick with smaller plans so you can accomplish them. Good advice, 2011! Look, you’re ALREADY being more helpful than 2010. Thanks.
Well, thanks for chatting, 2011. I guess we’ll be seeing each other…every day for the next 365 days, (yes, I am counting today as a day).
Remind us of the God Who Reigns on High.
May the Lord humble us. May the Lord teach us to number our days.
May we be quick to serve Him, follow Him, worship Him, live for Him, love Him, and manifest His fullness to all.
Yours Respectfully,
Alicia A. Martin
I can’t believe you have arrived. I thought 2010 was going to be more interesting, but it came and went without as many delights as I had planned. Now, 2011, I would like to know what surprises and delights YOU have in store. Maybe you have no delights. Maybe you will be the hardest year of my life. Who knows? The Lord knows! But can’t you give me a few clues?? A few sneak previews?
Fine, fine, if you signed a contract that prohibits giving sneak peeks, fine.
To tell you the truth, 2011, I really did want to accomplish MORE in 2010. I thought that was a cool number. I wanted to get an official document so the [cool] year’s number could be on there, but I think all I have are receipts, car insurance documents, and paychecks. I was hoping for something more substantial. It would have been nice to get some sort of degree or credential with 2010 on it. Oh well. Guess my opportunity has passed.
Sorry, am I annoying you? Am I talking too much about last year? Okay. What shall WE plan to do? In your year I will be a quarter of a century. That’s pretty strange. It is even stranger to me because I feel as if I haven’t aged for a few years. I mean, I think (I hope) I have gained some maturity, but I don’t feel old(er). (Maybe I am going at such a speed, as compared to those around me, that I am aging at a slower pace! Maybe I am experiencing the theory of relativity!!) Back to the point, turning a quarter of a century is a big deal. What are we going to do about that?
Hey! You better not be laughing at me, 2011! I don’t care if that’s merely a speck of dust in comparison to the number of years the world has been around. This year has to be a year of BIG EVENTS! GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENTS! ACHIEVING GOALS! (I guess I want to become a new person.)
Generally speaking though, 2011, I don’t like setting New Year’s resolutions. I hope you’re not offended. It’s not that you’re not fun to plan for and to use as motivation, but I never accomplish them and then I just feel like a big, fat failure for not attaining my goal(s).
What?! You think I should try again? You think we could be successful partners? I don’t know. What do you have that the other years didn’t?
Class? You have class?? That’s your recommendation for yourself? Good thing you didn’t have any competition for this “New Year” position. Good thing you were just BORN into the job. (Some guys have it SO easy.)
No, I am not being rude. I just need to have a better reason to make resolutions with you.
No, it’s not that I don’t trust you, per se. It’s more that I don’t trust myself. Yeah, 2011 WOULD be a good year to change all that AND mark it with me adding the 25th year to my life (IF I make it to April…this could be my last year, you know.)
Say! That would have been cool to die in 2010. But if I died in 2011 I would die with a “rounded” age, if you allow for stopping on the fives to be rounding.
Sorry, too morbid? Sorry. (You can’t deny that it’s a possibility though. It could happen.)
All right, so 2011, you have persuaded me. I guess I will make some resolutions. But I only have big, general ideas. I don’t have detailed particulars. For instance: last year I prayed that the Lord would make me love Him with my whole being. WOW! He grew me in that!! I love Him more NOW (much more) than I did at the beginning of last year. Last year I also asked Him that my heart would sorrow for souls. My heart has been sorrowing, 2011, more and more (it would seem) with each passing day.
What shall I ask of Him THIS year? – That I would see my sin more clearly, hate it more fervently, and repent (put on righteousness) with greater speed. I want to be holier this year. (No, 2011, not holier than thou.) I just want to pursue holiness BECAUSE I love Him.
I want to walk in the good works that He has set before me.
I want to entrust my dreams to Him and wait for Him to give me whatever dreams He wants me to have. (I really hope He will give me some of the dreams that I have dreamed rather than making me dream new ones, but I will choose to take content what He will send.)
I want to reflect Him more and myself less. (That will take some definite refining.)
I do want my love for Him to grow. I want to love Him more with more of me.
I also would like to accomplish tasks. Things I have been talking about for years, I want to do. But, I don’t really know what that means. I think it will mean (yes…typical, typical…) exercising (we’ll start with an acceptably easy goal,) 3 days a week. (I really mean 5, but I don’t know I can keep that for the WHOLE year.)
I think I should also get my passport. Why not, right? There’s nothing wrong in being ready. (When the Lord says, “GO!” I can just grab up my passport with my backpack and VAMOOS!)
OH! 2011, does this mean we will have ADVENTURES together?! Oh PLEASE?! THAT would be delightful and that would make you a better year than 2010 could ever be, (even if 10 IS half of 20).
HEY! Maybe I’ll also learn Spanish, take art lessons, cake-decorating lessons, travel the East Coast, start volunteering in the community, get more involved at church, make new friends, take dance lessons, learn pottery…
What? That’s too much? You say I should just see what happens?? I thought we were going to make RESOLUTIONS! …Oh yeah, stick with smaller plans so you can accomplish them. Good advice, 2011! Look, you’re ALREADY being more helpful than 2010. Thanks.
Well, thanks for chatting, 2011. I guess we’ll be seeing each other…every day for the next 365 days, (yes, I am counting today as a day).
Remind us of the God Who Reigns on High.
May the Lord humble us. May the Lord teach us to number our days.
May we be quick to serve Him, follow Him, worship Him, live for Him, love Him, and manifest His fullness to all.
Yours Respectfully,
Alicia A. Martin
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